Daniel Henchman, the most enterprising bookseller in colonial America, was born in Boston, the son of Hezekiah and Abigail Henchman. His grandfather, for whom he was named, served with distinction in the militia during King Philip's War and was a founder of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Nothing is known about Henchman's formative years. He presumably served the normal seven-year apprenticeship, perhaps with the bookseller Samuel Phillips, and he became an independent bookseller about 1710. A substantial number of his business ledgers and journals are extant and provide a detailed picture of commerce in colonial America. In 1713 Henchman opened a shop at the south corner of King and Cornhill Streets (now State and Washington) and married Elizabeth Gerrish, the daughter of a prominent general merchant; they had one child, Lydia, who married Thomas Hancock. Starting with a simple range of books and stationery, Henchman expanded his stock rapidly. He handled both new...